What is the purpose of a thoracotomy?

The procedure of a thoracotomy involves making an incision into the chest wall, which allows access to the organs within the thoracic cavity, such as the lungs, heart, or major blood vessels. This surgical approach is often utilized for various diagnostic and therapeutic reasons, including lung resection, treatment of trauma, or obtaining tissue biopsies. The key aspect of a thoracotomy is that it facilitates direct access to the thoracic organs, which is critical for a variety of surgical interventions.

The other options present different medical procedures or conditions that do not accurately describe the primary goal of a thoracotomy. While removing fluid from the lungs may be associated with a procedure like thoracentesis, it does not capture the full scope of a thoracotomy. Similarly, examining the lungs for infection may be part of a broader diagnostic approach but is not the primary intent of the incision itself. Finally, opening the airways during an asthma attack pertains to airway management techniques rather than the surgical intervention of a thoracotomy. Therefore, the primary purpose of a thoracotomy is indeed to perform an incision into the chest wall for further surgical exploration or intervention.